1. Martha’s Moment John 11:21–26 (NIV) 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
The grave could not hold Him who is THE RESURRECTION!
John 11:27 (NIV) “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
2. Mary’s Moment John 11:32–44 (NIV) 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
3. Lazarus’ Moment John 11:38–44 (NIV) 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
He awakens the sleepers. He awakens the dead. Ephesians 5:14 (NIV) For it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
His Voice in the darkness 1. “Come Out” Jesus is always calling us to COME OUT & COME IN!
2. “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
He is removing everything that doesn’t look like life.
John 11:45–46 (NIV) 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. .
His invitation to the doubters: Touch and feel him then believe in Him
Seven “I AM” declarations about Himself. (John)
I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12)
I AM the Door of the Sheep (John 10:7, 9)
I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
I AM the True Vine (John 15:1, 5)
I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
Romans 5:17 (NIV)17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:18 (NLT) I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.
